"167 hours, 35 minutes, and 42 seconds until level collapse." Came the familiar voice as you head down the stairwell.

All of you head down that day. Leading into the underground tunnels. These tunnels should not be here. In some places, this should be a subway or a sewer system. Or just dirt. Instead, what looks like a maze crafted by stone and ancient peoples seems to have popped into being.

If any of you change your minds, you find you cannot leave. The portal is one way, and you don't even see the surface anymore. The lights from the tunnels are familiar however. They seem to be streetlights, home lightings, and other modern light fixtures somehow repurposed to give the shadowy dim illumination to the tunnels. As if someone stole all the light blubs and other such electric devices and installed them inside here.

Eventually, if you wait long enough, others come down as well. Random people seeking to get out of the cold, because suddenly there is no where for them to go up top. Some of them want to get their families back, and others are just keen on seeing aliens for the first time. You might want to group up with them for safety, or maybe you just think you are better off alone.

Whichever you decide, you find you are not alone here in the Labyrinth. There are horrible traps, such as crushing walls, spiked pits, and blades from the ceiling. Even those among you who go on by yourselves hear the screams of people falling prey to such things. They echo from what sounds like thousands of miles away, carried by the tunnels right to your ears.

Eventually the traps stop. Some of you are skillful or lucky enough to bypass them. However, this maze is not done with you. There are living things within the halls that come from the shadows. Spiders, the size of dogs crawl from the ceilings and floors. Some shooting webs and dragging their prey away, others pouncing on helpless people. Those of you who came down armed find that bullets work just fine on these creatures. However, its what leading them to you is the problem.

https://2e.aonprd.com/Images/M.../Gremlin_Mitflit.png

Small blue humanoids, about 3 feet tall each. Carrying daggers and crossbows, and seemingly able to command the spiders to attack. They send in the horrible arachnids first, and then proceed to try and ether capture or kill anyone who remains. Bullets again work on these things, as do normal weapons and blows, but there are many of them. Eventually you have to run, and if you did not run right away you take serious injury and maybe spider poison as you stand your ground.

Despite that, you do manage to live. Hurt, exhausted, and running blind, you mange to find a glowing neon sign. It seems assembled from standard neon available in any city, however it spells out a word in a language none of you knew before today. Somehow, all of you understand it now.

GUILDHALL THIS WAY It even has a helpful arrow.

Sensing that the creatures are now hot on your heels, your run. Or stagger, depending how much fighting you did to get here. You do find an elaborate double door. Carved with odd runes and bat winged horned people. Above the massive structure reads in the odd language the same word as before, plus one other.

GUILDHALL SAFEZONE.

Even lightly touching the door opens it, and you quickly walk through. Even if you came down with others, you are alone now. However, upon entering the Guildhall it slams loudly behind you. However, in time it will open again, revealing others you have never met before who will join you.

The place is fairly unremarkable. There is a counter with a variety of medieval costumes, armor, and weapons. The lights are glowing orbs that float freely. Several comfortable chairs seem to be placed at random spots, and a picture of what looks like a family of part human part badgers wearing strange clothes wave from its hanging spot over a active fireplace.

Its what's floating in the center of the room that makes you stop with alarm.

https://66.media.tumblr.com/f2...naBKU1rkapbx_540.jpg

Before you can scream, draw a now empty weapon, or even run, you hear a voice in your mind.

'Hello. I am Guildmaster Trevik. I am sure you have several thousand questions. I am only allowed to answer a few of them. Feel free to ask anything however. Once you calm down that is.'

Worse, when you stare at the eight foot tall floating thing, a pop up window appears in your vision, and the familiar game show host voice narrates the description.

"MIND HORROR!

These horrible predators collect the brains of their victims by drilling into their skulls with their long tendrils. The more brains they feed into their beak, the more intelligent and telepathic and telekinetic they get! Don't worry, they don't eat morons, so all of you will be fine! Wait...no you won't."

This message was last edited by the player at 23:35, Sun 16 Jan 2022.

For her, the world. For she, anything. Hershell thought to himself, as he ran his fingers across the backside of his flaying knife. A mantra, a chant, a reminder of why he was here. It did little to alleviate the screams of those around him. He joined them in a foray to the depths as many lingered in fear.

The skinny meat spoke of space and aliens. A lust for the unknown.

The pretty meat told lies of valor and fame. They wanted power.

The dirty meat spat words of anger and misery. They wished for money.

Hershel told the meat he walked for She. The meat failed to understand but don't really care anyway. It doesn't matter. Skinny meat dies first, reveals to us the floor itself was not safe here and was impaled. Skewered like a boar in a pitfall. The pretty meat screams, but the dirty meat understands. Hershel and the dirty meat have to take point now, as the pretty meat cries itself into ugly meat.

Dirty meat has great eyes, knows how to find what isn't first apparent. Hershel tells him such, but is only met with silence. The ugly meat has stopped crying, and the three of them have made it through the screaming tunnels and their hidden traps. Dirty meat takes a moment to embrace the ugly meat, and they share whispered words. Hershel has his own set of words when his shotgun catches dinner.

The spiders began to come out. Many, many spiders. More spiders than Hershel has ammunition for. Dirty and ugly meat come to their senses and begin running with Hershel. The ugly meat points out the spiders are being controlled by blue men. The blue men are not resistant to bullets. Hershel, despite the pleas of the meat, takes a moment to carve a few bits off of the blue man he'd shot. "It's my kill, it belongs to me!" Hershel cried as he frantically cut into the dead man-thing's face. Hershel takes an eye and eats it. Delicious, he thinks to himself. Hershel also takes the blue man's tongue in the hopes he too could speak to and command the spiders.

In the scrap, the ugly meat is dragged away by a spider and it's master. The meat's mouth is covered in webs so it cannot scream. The dirty meat ran down a tunnel after having been separated from Hershel. Hershel ran into a different tunnel and lost his shotgun to the spiders. His arm was numb and bloodied, but he can't recall how it happened. He doesn't stop running to think about it as the sounds behind him grow louder. He asks She for a sign and sees the light. Hershel thanks she and rushes to her comfort...


Hershell hits the floor with a wet cough as the door slams shut behind him. Clutching his throbbing arm as he stands up, he scans the area with an incomprehensible mumble. He moves about the so-called 'saferoom'  to look for food of some description. He was starving. Looking over the costumes, Hershel takes a moment to rip one of them up to tie it around his weeping arm to staunch the flow. He looks at the fresh arrivals with disinterest as he intends to sit down for a moment. Seeing the floating creature gives Hershel pause as he puts his words together against it.

"You with the blue men? ...Where's my knife?!" The second question comes with significantly more aggression and agitation to his tone as Hershel pats himself down.

The Mind Horror floats over to Hershel, but does not get close enough to touch him. 'Those are Spider Mites, sometimes called Gremlins by your people.' The creature spokes in everyone's minds.

'They are a common threat on the 1st level of the Laybrith. Useally to weed out the beginning Wanderers. Right now the number of Wanderers have dropped from 40,837,925 to roughly 30,000,000 or so. As for your knife, I have no idea where it went, but once we reformat you, your loot boxes and fully HUDs and inventory systems will come online.'

The creature seems to know what the next question is before anyone asks. 'To be reformatted is to be changed by the Labyrinth into a form that will assist your survival. Once you do that, you will given abilites and equipment that will allow you to get to the lower levels.'

Connor descended through the portal, still somewhat in chock from seeing his friends just atomized in front of him as he stood by on the sidewalk. He lamented his own weakness, while also feeling guilty at the fact he was grateful that he survived while his friends died. not that he wanted them to die, mind you. He'd never want that and good friends were something to be cherished. He'd never forgive D'Monix for that, and for possibly killing his family and other friends back home.

But still, deep down his will to survive was strong and he was happy to be alive. Even as he endured an alien reality invasion and descended into a den of horrors. Literally. It was like a dungeon out of a fantasy novel, complete with giant spiders...freaking giant ass spiders that were trying to eat people. And blue gremlin gnome things...whatever they were. They didn't seem friendly or open to diplomacy, and unlike many of the people entering the dungeon he didn't try to face any of these threats. For it was clearly apparent to him that these were all dangers and he was in no position to negotiate with anything.

Not to mention...he didn't fully trust the people he was seeing either. While he valued friendship greatly, he himself believed that trust was earned and not given. And he didn't know if other humans would end up being as dangerous as the spiders or if they'd have the good sense to not fight among themselves and make a shitty situation even worse.

And so Conner was cautious, and stayed out of the way of other groups of humans while clinging to the walls and shadows and doing his best to avoid the attention of spiders and gremlin things. He was unarmed and soft, but he was intelligent. He used stones to throw and make distracting noises to get past spiders, or to set off traps from afar and watch how they worked. He made sure not to be a threat to other humans, so that they'd leave him alone. But he watched them face off against traps and spiders from a distance.  And he gained knowledge and insight from these observations while he hid and used evasive tactics.

And knowledge was power, after all.

He had a few close calls, though, and had to do some quick dashing and rolling on the ground and he was not an athlete by any means, although he was intelligent and nimble. But he has some scrapes and bruises for sure, as well as a gash in his left arm from a spider's claw-like leg-swipe as he ran past a group of people dealing with a spider. But once he saw the safe space guild house...he dashed inside and didn't look back!

----------

As he took in his surroundings, he was at first curious and mystified before suddenly letting out a soft gasp of "oh fuck me..." when he saw the mind horror Guild master. However, he was surprised when it spoke into his mind rather than tried to eat him or someting.

"Um...Mister Mind Horror, sir. Ma'am? Please don't eat me. I come in peace, and I assure you I taste like crap." he said aloud to it.

"If you really are answering questions...then please tell me what this place is? You seem more civilized than the monster spiders and blue garden gnomes from hell back there."

In reply to Conner Johnson (msg # 4):



'Ah yes, those are complicated questions to answer, but I am allowed to give you details on that series of subjects.' It answered in its group mind link. It floated away from Hershel and towards Conner.

'This...this place is what in human terms would be called a reality TV show created by the D/Monix corporation. Several different corporations have run the show over thousands of years, taking over entire worlds and using them for its production. Your world is the latest. For the last 90 earth solar cycles they have been preparing for the digitization of your civilization. Then they run the game show throughout many dimensions and solar systems, where betting and monetization occurs based on the outcomes of the games. Many what you would call royal families and empires are driven by the money generated by these games, and neutral computer is supposed to be in charge of its production.'

It pauses, and then one tendril points to the picture above the fireplace. The one of the family of humanoid badger people. 'My own world was destroyed by these games, and I was a Wanderer like you are now. However, I was reformatted into a new form, and tried to beat the Labyrinth. In order to reclaim my world's matter and energy and release the uploaded minds of my family and my people. However, I never made it past the 12th floor, and retired. Because I was considered an intellectual among my own race, the system AI thought it would be...funny...to reformat me as a mind horror.' The mental voice sounds almost angry. 'I am trapped in the Labyrinth, assisting other Wanderers and stuck as a mind horror until my contract is up and I am free to leave.'
This message was last edited by the player at 05:11, Mon 17 Jan 2022.

"167 hours, 35 minutes, and 42 seconds until level collapse." Came the familiar voice as David headed down the stairwell.

The young man had daydreamed a lot of scenarios where he was kidnapped or made to leave his family and his church but none of them as weird as this. While this did feel like an escape, what was it an escape to?

This tunnel was weird with it's combination of fantasy movie tunnel and modern lights and David was relieved when he heard voices ahead of him. Hurrying, he ran to catch up to whoever was talking but almost hid when he saw who it was; Chad and some of his goons. Maybe if he stayed quiet and unobtrusive they wouldn't choose to bother him since there were others including adults in the group as well.

When the traps started hurting and killing people though, the bravado and since of adventure left the group. One person fell into a pit full of spikes, arrows killed another and hurt many, including David. And a scythe swung down and almost split Chad in half. Emitting a high pitched squeak, he was able to jump out of the way.

A youth named Tim Hogg had the unfortunate habit of laughing when he was scared or nervous started laughing right when Chad emitted the squeal. As that was the last trap they encountered, the goon squad croweded around Tim and pushed him into a kind of corner. David felt equal parts relief for not being the subject of their attentions and shame for feeling that way and not sticking up for Tim. Cornering Tim where the tunnel turned next to an offshoot tunnel heading off into the dark, the squad was really starting to lay into Tim. David was trying to decide to go around the group to keep going or to try to get out of sight to wait them out. No thoughts entered the youths mind to try to help the other boy though.

Right when David had decided to try to move on a spider the size of a large dog jumped on the back of one of the goons and a strand of web shot out of the side tunnel, stuck to another one of the goons and yanked him into the tunnel. Everyone just stood in shock for a moment then pandemonium broke out. People scattered both up the passage and back the way they came as more spiders and some strange little blue people started attacking everyone.

This was the final straw for David and he just ran. He ran past people being killed and drug off by the spiders and the blue men. He ran past people who were hurt and needed help. He even ran past Chad, catching the bigger young man off balance and knocking him over. He ran until he finally saw the signs for the Guildhall and the supposed safe zone.

Busting through the door to the guild hall, David was halfway across the room and right in front of the weird floating brain with a beak. He just stood and stared at the weird thing for no telling how long when a hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. Chad was there with a furious look on his face and a raised fist.

I am going to kill you, you pansy a$$ sissy!

When Chad raises his fist and thrusts it forward he freezes in place. The words 'Bad sport' appear above his head in glowing letters. Then he proceeds to vanish.

'There is no violence allowed in a Safe Zone.' Trevik transmits. 'However, this place will not protect you from when the level collapses in just under one week. Then your matter will be collected and used for the Labyrinth. In that time, you must find the 1st Level's apex creature, defeat it, and gain access to the stairwell to the second level.'
This message was last edited by the player at 05:11, Mon 17 Jan 2022.

In reply to Guildmaster Trevik (msg # 5):

Connor considered a bit. What was being told to him took some time to sink in. He did frown in empathy, though, when the Badgerman-turned-Horror=Turned-Guildmaster pointed to the picture of its old family. It seemed that Earth was not the first to fall victim to D'Monix style reality invasion.

"So um...Guildmaster Trevik, was it? That certainly explains why you're being nice and that you cannot always judge a book by its cover." he replied.

He turned at the two men acting disruptive, and the one named Chad (whose name he didn't actually know) who vanished. He rolled his eyes dismissively at them - it was people like that which caused him to fend for himself on his trip here. Although he didn't think he could be a lone wolf forever though. He needed to find allies who were worthy of his trust, and fast. But for now, he needed to get his bearings.

"Good riddance. Anyway, Mister Trevik...can you tell me what exactly D'Monix is? Are they - and you for that matter - like aliens or something? And what is reformatting?"

In reply to Conner Johnson (msg # 8):

'I am permitted only limited response on your first question.' The brain creature transmitted.

'You may have notice the humanoid creatures carved on the door, the ones with horns and bat wings. They are the race called Shaitan, and are responsible for the many myths of your world of creatures of hell and torment. In truth, they are simply beings of commerce, and not much morally different than any other species. Their people are not inherently evil, but the cooperate power structure that controls most of the multiverse could be considered so. That being said, they are watching and listening most of the time...and have been known to be petty against Wanderers who insult them too much.' The creature almost shrugs with its tendrils. 'Never anything that can be proven of course. Even this place has rules of its own...'

'As for me, and the others...we are different forms of life. Evolving naturally on our worlds and dimensions, we have been brought together under multiverse corporate tech. One of your writers once said "Advanced enough technology is indistinguishable from magic." In the Labyrinth, there are many things that will happen that will seem like magic to you. For example, having your human form changed into another species and given abilities with the confines of the game show's rules in order to survive. You may remain human if you wish, but another race's skills and natural advantages might be the edge you need.'
This message was last edited by the player at 03:01, Mon 17 Jan 2022.

Tsukiko had always wanted to leave the Shrine but this was not what she had in mind. Everything she knew though appeared to be gone, so there was little choice but to proceed down the stairs.

She was not going to make it through something like this alone, that was sure, especially when all she had to her name was a Flute. "...what the??!" Came a quick squeal as a a pitfall opened beneath her causing her to jump out of the way quickly.

After that she would begin to keep a better look out for traps and other things. Hearing the cries of others getting, killed or other things, she also decided it would be best to find some others to team up with. That's when she happened upon them, a bit further down the tunnel. A police officer obvious from the United States and a teenager with a baseball bat, possibly from the same area.

Cautiously she would join with these two, figuring safety in numbers and all. The Officer had a gun and a nightstick, the latter of which was offered to her. It would come in handy soon enough as soon spiders and small humanoids would set upon them! The fight was short and bloody with a spiders tearing the teen to ribbons before they finally succumbed.

Her and the officer would move down the tunnel quickly after she said a small prayer over the teen. It wouldn't be long though before another trap beset them! Tsukiko suddenly felt a shove on her back as the officer yelled for her to look out, just as a wall trap smashed him into the accompanying wall! She laid there for a moment, stunned at what just happened before a creature dropped from the ceiling and stabbed her in the shoulder waking her from her revere! A grab and a throw, she would proceed to beat it with the nightstick.

Finally, she'd get up and wonder the last few hundred yards to the Guild Hall. Hearing what the beast said about himself, and his world as she walked in. Her flute and the nightstick in one hand as she held her wounded shoulder with the other.

"So thats what happened to our world then?" The young woman asked in a thick oriental accent, dressed in a plain brown kimono with a thinner white one underneath. On her feet were japanese style sandals, long white socks were on her feet. Some form of symbol was worn on a simple beaded neckless around her neck.

'Not...entirely.' The creature mentally projected to all, floating now Tsukio's way. 'While anyone inside was digitized for their matter, so was most of your technology, resources, structures and vehicles. Which means anyone not in the Labyrinth and not inside anywhere is now out side without most of the advantages you all had worked so hard to create.

D/Monix will honor the standard dimensional law. So the natives of any world the company claims are independent of the games, as long as they do not enter the Labyrinth. However, they also have no wish to aid any human in their own new struggle for survival. There are many interdimensional movements who wish to end the games and aid the survivors of the worlds tormented by these corporations. However, their funding is low, and the best they can do is find a Wanderer to speak about their issues during the lower levels of the Labyrinth or during the Confessional.'

It seems to stay quiet about what the 'Confessional' is, and will not answer direct questions about it.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:05, Mon 17 Jan 2022.

She seemed rather calm and reserved about what she was just told. Which was odd, considering the gravity of what she was just told. "I see. Can it be reversed? The entirety of it?"

The Shaitan. So they were the cause of all this. Not much he could do to them or against them right now, but he made mental note of that for later.

At first, it was like he was inside of a computer. But then the fact he literally physically entered the portal, along with all the traps and people dying and so on convinced him this was something else. Some sort of extension of the reality modification the D'Monix had done to attack Earth.

It also seemed that the only recourse - the only chance tiny as it was - that Connor had of turning the tables or at least surviving was to try to figure out the rules of his tormentors, and then play by those same rules and find a way to use them to his own advantage. And - if possible - to find loopholes that he as a human could exploit.

"Hmmm...well then Mister Trevik sir...could you please tell me how reformatting works? I'm interested in this, but would like to know how it works and how much my own intention can influence it and if it even matters." he said.

"And I doubt you're a friend of D'Monix after what they've done to you and your family. So I was wondering if you provide me a map of this level, or otherwise tell me anything else you know about it. There is a saying on Earth that the enemy of your enemy is your friend. So maybe we can help each other."

In reply to Tsukiko Kuki (msg # 12):

'It is said, those who win the Laybrith will have access to its converted matter. Part of that is the minds of living creatures uploaded to a digital platform storing thier memories.' The eyeless thing seems to move towards the young woman even closer, as if trying to meet her gaze.

'This has never happened in the history of the games. I tired, and gave up. Finding it impossible to do on my own.

Things may have changed with your world, because now the multiverse is beginning to see the cruelty and the threat the games pose.'

Conner spoke up then.



'I cannot violate the rules of the guild. My contract has...harsh consequences if I aid any Wanderer beyond what I allowed to do. That being said, I am your guildmaster now. On any level where you find a guildhall, you will find me. I will transport to any level my Wanderers are located, even beyond the level collapse. As you learn more, the more I will be allowed to aid you...directly.'

It pauses, as if that seems to mean more than what it was saying.

'Reformatting involves me enabling your HUD and inventory system. This allows your mind direct contact with the AI in a limited way. You will start getting the ability to analyze what is going on around you in the Labyrinth, via pop up menus. You have seen the start of this already by the AI description of the Mind Horror I current am. As...annoying and cruel as the AI is, it is also bound by rules. Those rules can be manipulated to change your current state of matter, but only in the guildhalls by a guildmaster. I will show you a series of pop up menus which will describe choices that best fit your personality, skills, and background in order to change into a new, healthy body. This body will be capable of combat, skills you don't currently posses, and even powers beyond human ability. This will all be dependent on your choices of the options I show you. But don't believe you cannot be killed. This change is just to make you more entertaining gladiators to the trillions watching the interdimensional net feeds.

It then 'looks' at all of you, even without eyes. 'Its not enough to be capable warriors. You must be entertaining. You will gain food, provisions, weapons, armor and tools from what the game refers to as 'Loot Boxes'. Some of these are provided by the AI, others by Non combat creatures you will encounter in the games, others by creatures you must kill. The best and most powerful loot boxes are from viewers. Also, corporate sponsors who want to to succeed.'   
This message was last edited by the player at 05:43, Mon 17 Jan 2022.

Barely paying attention to the conversation, Hershel took in the bits he needed to know and ignored the rest as he was tossing the room apart in the background.

"S'there any damn food in here? Them crawlers worked up an appetite, and I didn't have time to carve a blueberry."

In reply to Hershel Shaw (msg # 15):

'You will gain food and more once the reformatting process is finished.' It stated simply.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:46, Mon 17 Jan 2022.

Connor nodded.

"Understood. I don't want you to get in trouble by violating your contract, but you now know my thoughts on the matter. Use that to your advantage as you will, in any acts of passive resistance you're able to muster without breaking your contract." Connor replied with a wink.

"But with that said though...besides reformatting of course, what other services, features, and perks does the guild offer us? Is this the only guild hall on this level, or are there other areas under the influence and protection of the guild and any allies of the guild?" he asked.

In reply to Conner Johnson (msg # 17):

'There is a guildhall on every level. As there are safe areas on every level. However, you will be forced to find them. Safe areas are on the only places you can open loot boxes.

As you progress, I will reveal more functions of the guild hall.'

"Then I will win this thing and do what you couldn't." She pulls her hand away from her bloody shoulder, and clutches something around her neck. "And may Inari and his Kami bless me, so I may win." She said back to the guildmaster. It was obvious that there was a storm brewing within her over all of this, but despite that she remained calm about everything.

"...now can, this be healed?" She asked, indicating the knife wound on her shoulder.

Shortly before the world he disappeared Nathan was in a good mood. His preparation for the upcoming detective exam were going well and felt confident and would be easily pass.

All his police associates were already at The Matiki BBQ for lunch, He was late because he had to remind Mathew to stop panhandling at the nearby busy intersection and pull his pants up or at least wear underwear.

He had just got out of the car when the restaurant as well as all the buildings and structures disappeared. After the D/Monixs announcement he realized that chances of surviving were thin at best, but what really made is decision was apparent death of his world left him with too many questions and the only chance to get answers was going down those stairs.

Over a dozen people followed him, mostly because had a gun and they didn't. He allowed them to follow but warned them that he couldn't guarantee their safety. He past experience with IEDs and other traps gave him an edge in bypassing them. Unfortunately several people blundered into traps despite his warnings due to impatience,fear or impulsiveness.

After clearing the traps he realized that the group was being surrounded. He realized that there were more attackers than he had bullets and unless they moved immediately they would be overwhelmed and probably killed. He quickly explained this to the survivors this and told them their only chance was to follow him NOW .

As the crossbow bolts flew and the spiders advanced he charged the least organized part of the surrounding force and shot them in order to clear a way to break out of the ambush. Many of the survivors stood frozen in place attempting to reason with them or beg for mercy, neither which the creature were willing to provide. Others who tried to run failed to avoid the crossbow bolts or the spiders.

By the time he broke out of the ambush he was left with three companions.

Scotty,the old navy vet who worked at the meat department of the nearby store, proved to be resourceful. He picked up one of the crossbows and managed to shoot a couple of the creatures.

Maxine or "Max" the cute violet dyed goth girl who worked at the gas station proved to nimble and easily dodged anything the enemy threw at her.

"Pete" was a homeless man, while  Nathan deemed a little strange but otherwise well behaved. On realizing the the creature would show no mercy fought savagely. He punched,clawed and kicked at his foes with great determination. Nathan thought he might had seem some martial art moves mixed in.

Nathan and the others broke though the ambush but with the exception of Max had taken some form of damage. When they climb up to a passage Nathan realized that he could hold off their pursers here and allowed the other a chance to escape. He handed his backup revolver to Scotty and told the other to run. Max get him a kiss before she ran off with the others.

As the pursuers climbed the wall to the passageway Nathan was down to his last clip and a half he didn't think much of his chances for surviving. But just as he was about to be overrun the surviving enemy turned and ran away. The battle left with a pistol with no bullets, his bulletproof vest torn to shreds and his collapsible baton and his utility knife his only functioning weapons.

He was trying to find his companions when sound of his returning to the pursuit forced him to run as fast as he could until he almost ran into the guildhall sign.

He will stagger into the guildhall his uniform bloodied from several puncture wounds. He will look at the others then look at the guildmaster and say. "I take it this means I passed your company's f###ing audition?"

 

'When you are reformatted, even if you remain human and as you are, all of your bodies aliments and illnesses will be removed. To further promote healing, certain potions can be ingested to restore you physical and magical strength.' It responded.



The creature turns about and floats next to Zane. 'They are not, 'my' company. I am a prisoner just like you. The contract I signed was the choice of service or death. But you are correct that this is an audition. Even now, the Wanderer count has dropped from under 30,000,000 to 27,000,000 or so.'

David tries to find a relatively out of the way place away from the door to wait for whatever happens next. "Audition," he thinks to himself. One of the things he liked to do was watch all of the reality competition shows like Big Sister, The Awesome Race, and Remainder. He even followed the shows on the internet and social media platforms when he could sneak on the internet.

"Audition," he thinks again. Whatever can I do to make myself to stand out among everyone else.

She nodded then considered a moment. "How many levels is there, and do we have the same amount of time to clear each? Or does the amount of time fluctuate based on the level or depth we are in this 'labyrinth'?"

"You said should we make it through this we gain access to the matter reserves, so that means we 'can' restore our world to the exact state it was before all this happened?" She asked considering. "A galactic community should help others achieve their potential not, do something like this."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:47, Mon 17 Jan 2022.

The eye less, brain-like creature turns in Tsukiko's diection. 'Those are all good questions. None of which I am permitted to answer...yet.' It points out.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:43, Mon 17 Jan 2022.

Connor considered.

"Guildmaster Tevik? It seems clear to me now that there's really only one way to go and that's forward. They literally made the game to prevent players from just settling here forever by forcing us to either move forward or get atomized when the floor collapses. Assuming monsters and traps don't kill us in the meantime, that is." he said.

"With that said...I fully expect a whole lot of humans that you are about to meet are going to just give up in despair and not bother with reformatting or otherwise playing the game. I'm just warning you. Humans are strong, but we're also really, really weak too. It depends on the person." he continued.

"But me? I am not going down without a fight. I would like to accept your proposal to reformat myself. Please let me know what I've got to do to get started." he said seriously. Solemnly even.

In reply to Conner Johnson (msg # 25):

The Brain Beast floats over to Conner. 'On my own world the sick, the old, and the young stayed in the Safe rooms even at the collapse of the first floor. They thought that it would be better than to die on their own terms then as a game or worse, kill others to entertain a cruel overlord. I refused to stay, and went on to be reformatted. Upon my reaching of the second floor, I was told that the game's rules had changed. Anyone in a safe room upon the collapse of the second floor or lower would automatically be transported to the next floor, whether they wished it or not. There is nothing shameful about not playing D/Monix's game. But they will find a way to force you to play it.'

Once Conner says he is ready, the floating creature seems to nod...which is weird because it does not have a neck. 'I will show you the options...' It says, and starts to make gestures with its tendrils. Sure enough, holographic images and drop down menus of light seem to form in front of Conner. Everyone can see them, and it shows a 3D rending of different humanoid creatures, both male and female. And other in some cases. Each image is shown with a list of professions linked to the race in question.

'I am analyzing your human abilities now, and will make recommendations based on those. You just need to decide when you are ready. Once that is done, the reformat process will begin, and after that your HUD and inventory will be fully active. Then we will open your loot boxes.'

OOC-You can now narrate the process of choosing your Wanderer race, class, and stats. The Guildmaster will make that happen.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:13, Tue 18 Jan 2022.

Tsukiko would stand and face the Guildmaster. "Guildmaster Trevik, I am ready as well." She said with a calm nod, despite the storm raging within her.

In reply to Tsukiko Kuki (msg # 27):

Even as the Guildmaster works on Conner, it does that weird no neck nod towards Tsukiko, letting her know she could start as well. The same images and holographic menus appear near her.

David starts playing with the images and options. Tired of all of the comments about him being a sissy, he decides to choose one of the toughest looking races, Half-Orc. Next, he starts looking through the classes. Fighter, magic-user, rogue... wait... cleric. A holy warrior but follows other gods than God and then he discovered something even more interesting. He be a cleric that follows an ideal like... Freedom!

So to spite his parents, who apparently didn't exist anymore, he decided to be a priest and a priest of a different race as well. A REAL different race; a half orc! He will use these powers to support freedom! Freedom for people to live their lives the way that each person feels is right for them and possibly do something about these aliens.

Right when he thought he was done, he noticed he could choose his sex and he froze. Could that be true? He had dreamed and came up with weird scenarios where he was kidnapped or in an accident and his sex was changed and now he might be actually living in one of those scenarios?

He chooses female... no this is not right...switches back to male... but why not...switches back to female... it's wrong and a sin... switches back to male. Finally it dawns on him that if what he was taught in church was right, all of this wouldn't have happened and he switched it back to female to finalize his decision of his or her new self.

Tsukiko gave a gentle nod to herself, or was it to the Guildmaster. It really was hard to tell given her current condition. When the menus presented themselves she would begin to flip through them.

"...huh? Really...? These are the only...  ...wow..." She was about to complain but then she realized something, one of the only choices presented to her was one of the very beings her temple worshiped on earth. Was this...fate? Was Inari smiling on her for some reason? Or one of his Kami perhaps? Either way, she could not deny the choice when it was presented, and made the choice. A humanoid fox person, also known both on earth and somehow here as well as a Kitsune.

With race selected, next came sex, that was easy she would remain as a female. She felt most comfortable as she was when it came to that so why change it.

Then came class. "...huh?" Again the selections were limited for her here, but then something caught her eye. "...is he truly..." A class that deals with spirits, and deals with the the same powers of the Kami's of Inari. "...that will do." She said weakly. A Kitsune Oracle was born.

Finally, she would make her final selections, and press finished. "...done." Then collapse to her knees on the floor, taking ahold of her shoulder again.

Race: Kitsune
Sex: Female
Class: Oracle
Mystery: Tempest
Domain: Water
Sub-Class: Beastmaster
Companion: Dire Fox
This message was last edited by the player at 02:39, Tue 18 Jan 2022.

Connor nodded at the friendly Mind Horror, and turned to the hologram screens that were appearing before him. He didn't know if this was magic or science at this point, as it was all surreal. Like star trek meets dungeons and dragons. But he was resolute to survive this though, and he touched the hologram screens in front of him with no hesitation or reservation. If he had to play by the rules of his oppresors, he at least would do so on as much of his terms as possible.

As he flipped through screens, they scrolled left and right and presented menues and buttons and graphics and descriptions. He considered going female for a bit out of sheer curiosity. He would have loved to experience sex with a man from the perspective of a woman's body, but despite not being straight he still identified as male gender and went back to male. He then considered all these other races. Including Oread, to see if he could use the Shaitan's genes against them. But then he shook his head and went back to human.

Yes...he would Play as himself. He would not lose himself and his identity to this damned gameshow. No...instead, he started making elections that emphasized the human spirit. Its resilience and its versatility, even in the face of its own weakness. He opted to be reformatted as a human, but the most optimized and perfect idealization of a human. One that emphasized the enterprising and resilient nature of the human spirit and amped it up to 11 out of 10. This version of humanity was clearly unnatural compared to mundane Earth standards; this human could achieve stats (like intelligence and dexterity and so on) and inner fire similar to these other alien races he had access to. But this was okay - he was weaponizing his own humanity in an attempt to become something super-human, but yet...still mostly his old self. Minus physical and genetic flaws he had before like a mild stigmatism, flat feet, etc.

He then considered his own stats. The guildmaster had done a great job analyzing his person, and he encountered notes about boosting his intelligence and cunning as that played off the man's own innate aptitudes. The class recommendation was "rogue or possible spellthief." But Connor had other things in mind.

He only had so much "potentia" to play with though, as even the D'Monix's systems weren't without limit. So first, he jacked up his intelligence to the max the system would allow, followed by having an intermediate dexterity. This played to the man's current strengths, although he would now be smarter then Einstein and was more dexterous than even an olympic athlete or some sort of action hero marine. He gave his body a slight stamina boost, to help him endure the tough times ahead and to clear out his own natural bodily imperfections, and he retained how own mildly gifted insightfulness. His strength and charisma remained that of a mundane earth human, although not at a deficit. He refused to give up anything he had before. But at this point, he ran out of "potentia" for stats but was satisfied.

Then he came across class. He considered the Spellthief the Guild master had suggested. It certainly would go well with his enterprising nature. However...in a very human moment, Connor realized he wanted more. He looked through the roster of class options. It took some time to analyze everything, but if things like magic and aliens and Shaitans and so on were all real...he wanted to tap into whatever he could squeeze out of this system that would allow him to best dictate or at least bend the rules. He wanted magic of his own, and wanted a type of magic that would let him protect himself and anyone he cared about, while also giving him unique options and an ability to possibly bend D'Monix's own rules against them.

And then he saw it!

Wizard: You are a full-spellcaster, able to cast the most arcane of magics. You draw not on the power of an intermediary like a god or a patron, but on the very energy of the dimensions themselves to create magical effects that can bend the laws of physics. You will start off weaker than most classes, but over time you can grow your power to the point where you can - on the very slight teeny tiny minute chance that you survive long enough - warp the laws of reality itself. You can choose to specialize in a school of magic, or be a generalist.

And this had him caught, hook line and sinker. He knew then this was the class for him. It was high risk, high reward. And given the stakes...he had nothing to lose by taking this risk at this point.

And then he saw he could customize his main chassis with a sub-class, and decided if he was going to embrace magic that he would also see if he could mix in some of his beloved chemistry with that magic, both to provide him with options that a wizard normally didn't offer while helping provide him with crafting abilities he may be able to combine with his magic in unexpected ways! And what was when he saw the Alchemist, something that was a sort of crafter, but that relied on more on fantasy-physics and magi-science than pure science.  This would allow him to lean into his strengths.

If he had any chance of turning D'Monix's own rules and power against them, he knew being a wizard was the best route towards this goal. He even constructed a familiar that was just was unusual as he was going to be, but that would synergize with his elections and offer him expended options as well.

And So he made the following elections:

Race: Versatile Human
Sex: Male
Class: Wizard
School: Abjuration
Thesis: Familiar Attunement
Sub-Class: Alchemist
Familiar: Cabochon
This message was last edited by the player at 02:05, Tue 18 Jan 2022.

Jacob stumbles through the entryway, wounded and limping. His left leg is apparently unwounded, but discoloration suggests spreading poison may be to blame. He all but cries in relief as the sound of a screeching traps and enemies vanishes, leaving only blissful silence

He drops down against the nearest counter, clutching onto it for stability. A few calming breaths before he notes that there even is another figure present, his blurred vision resolving

"What the... !!!" he yells, grasping blindly for a weapon only to realize his fellow stragglers weren't the only thing to disappear. "I... what are... What is a guildhall?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:04, Tue 18 Jan 2022.

In reply to Jacob Levison (msg # 32):

'Time is running out. You will need close to the full week to get where you all need to go. I do not have the luxury of re-explaining everything to late comers in the usual way.' The Guildmaster sent to everyone's minds. So he proceeds to transmit all the conversations directly into Jacob's brain. Basically its like getting a speed learning course fed directly into one's mind. While very informative, it is also accompanied by a massive headache.

His back against the wall of the house, he motions to his partner.  “Over there behind the dumpster,” he whispers.

His partner, Dutch, nods and moves over to the dumpster and listens.  He nods back to John and points indicating that the bail jumper is in there.

John DeVore, currently a bounty hunter, has been a soldier, soldier for hire and a convict.  But not necessarily in that order.  His life experience, he is currently 51, has led him through life and led him to this.  His biggest bail jump.

John warily walks over to the dumpster and then hits it with all his might.  The dumpster rings like a huge gong.

“AAARRRGGHHH!!! Why’d ya do that??!!??” A voice screams within the dumpster.

“You ran.  Duh! Com’on Marshall.  Get out of there so we can take you back to jail and I can get paid.  I wish I could get more of you white-collar criminals to jump bail so I could get another 500k payment.”  John chuckles.

“Aww, man, I just wanted to get outta here,” Marshall complains back.

“Where you gonna go?” asks Dutch.  “We live on the Big Island.  You can’t go no where.”  Dutch chuckles too.

John look at them both.  “Let’s tag him and bag him and get to the bar.  I’m a might bit thirsty after that chase.”

Marshall gets out of the dumpster.  John and Dutch cuff him and lead him do their bright blue SUV.  It even has waves air brushed on the sides and back making the SUV look like it’s surfing.  Fortunately the ride back is uneventful.

They take Marshall out of the SUV and walk up to the jail.  John remembers the paperwork, and heads back to the vehicle.  “I’ll meet you inside,” he says and Dutch nods.  John retrieves the paperwork, locked the SUV and heads to the jail.

Just as he is about to put his hand on the door handle the door disappears and he is now looking where the building once stood.

“What that f-?”

* * *

After the voice in his head stops, sure enough the portals open.  He knows when he’s being offered a hand out and immediately jumps into the portal.  Some others also join and soon there is a small group.  They notice he’s carrying a gun and asks him to lead.  He reluctantly leads the group in.  However there are a few people that didn’t want him leading so they stormed ahead and they quickly died.

“That’s one way for me to figure out what’s going on up here.”

Next come spiders, blue “Goblins? Here? This isn’t Wrath of the Righteous?”, and more traps and death.

He makes it to the guildhall signs and tumbles through the door. Just as he begins to explain what’s going on to a young kid who must still be in college.  Rather than asking questions, John observes and makes observations.

He writes them down in his notebook.

Notes for Labyrinth Lands

• Spiders controlled by blue goblins
• Minds Horror is a wanderer like us
• When his contract is up?  How can we get a contract?
• Level 1 lasts one week then disappears.
• We need to find and defeat the Boss
• Then find the stairwell and advance up to level 2
• It is possible to win the game, but no one has.
• Guild master Trevik retired on lvl 12
• We fight to live
•   Can get better loot boxes by being entertained
•   Viewers can give us best loot boxes.
• Within a level there are safe rooms.  As well as guild halls
• Realizations
•   This is a Reality Game Show
•   It can be won, but no one has.
•   We can be whatever we want
•   We. Can. Win.

He circles “We. Can. Win.” several times.

So we can pick what we want to be huh?, he thinks to himself.

“I’ll take mine too.” He says and proceeds to slide through the menus mumbling to himself.  “Who would ever have thought that being a CRPG gamer would have ever helped out in real life. Heh heh.”

He finishes his build.  Sticking with things he knows.

Human. Versatile. Bounty Hunter.  Gunslinger with a hatchet.  And I can make my own bullets.

He nods to himself and settles against a wall.

“Done.”

Hershel stops ripping up the room as he looks up at the ceiling. Apparently mystified by something. This great vision he was receiving, unlike anything he'd ever seen before. The world laid bare at his fingertips. He saw himself a thousand times over, in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors, and concepts. The She was granting him a future, a glimpse of what should be. Of what WILL be. The taste of blood on his teeth, the promise of the murky depths restored. Brought about by the swamp's greatest guardians. "I'll do it." Hershel whispers to himself. "I'll send 'em to our depths, so we can appreciate them together."

Mumbling more to himself as his hands twitched with the movements of the sliders, the program was done, the choices were made. He questions none of them. They were chosen for a reason. What was displayed was a gift, and one he would not refuse. Hershel moves to sit down in the room and remains largely motionless and quiet after doing so.

Nathan was not happy with the situation. He was in a prison where the jailers not only controlled the environment they controlled your reality. The only thing he could be sure of was his free will and the would have depend on that to achieve his ultimate goal: justice against those who murdered his world.

After giving his consent he went through all his options. He found himself drawn to the role of the investigator. He wasn't really surprised when he thought about it, solving problems was a large part of his life. Whether it was spotting a IED or a enemy in the Middle East or solving a crime at home it was about finding the problem and trying to fix it.

He went through the menus to pick his best options. He elected to retain his race and gender and concentrate on enhancing his talents and skills to help him find exploits in a game that was fixed against him. When he selected what he hoped was his best choices he get gave final consent to his 'character'

As soon as they choices where made, people start to black out. Your wounds may have already brought you to the edge of consciousness, but this is something different. Each of you has a dream of your old life, expect instead you living it there is someone else there. Sometimes that someone else is not even human, depending on your choices...

Continued in Awakening Thread!

[Private to Malcom Von Skip: I will leave this thread up so you can post Malcom Von Skip coming in late, describing his entrance, and getting hold of the Guildmaster, who will proceed to change you along with everybody else.]

When everything went haywire. Malc was out riding. It was a beautiful day on the west coast even if it was a little cool and the forecast was calling for rain. For the time being though, it was just him and the winding mountain road.
The first sign of trouble was when the car in front of him turned shimmery and went around a corner. Then when he went around the same bend the car wasn't there. He thought it was odd, there wasn't anywhere for the car to have pulled off. He sped up to see if the car had just pulled ahead around the next corner, besides the twisties were opened up to him now. He didn't see the car around the next corner, or the next. After a couple minutes, and accelerating to unsafe speeds, the voice sounded in his head.
"What the hell is that!" he spoke out loud into the wind. Thinking that he must be loosing it, he jammed on the brakes compressing his front suspension and nearly lofting his hardtail.

The voice continued.

Shaking his head he took a few breaths and when the voice of God/Carnival Barker Dan finished he shook it again. "Either I'm trippin or we are finally seeing what the Preppers have been praying for. Either way, I need to get home." He spun his bike around and gunned it back the way that he had come from. He leaned hard into a corner and went straight through a portal and down a flight of stairs. His bike was already leaned over as he hit the stairs and there was no way he was going to pull through this. As the back end started to bounce from stair to stair he pulled his leg out from the ground side instinctively trying to separate himself from the bike but holding on for dear life. When his pride and joy of chrome and displacement finally stopped it threw him over and into the wall at a landing. The spine armor and helmet saved his life without a doubt, as the outer shell of the helmet split it two.

Everything after was a blur. He stumbled back to his feet while his wife's voice told him to lie still and wait for the paramedics. He stripped his saddle bags from the wreckage and undid his helmet. There was blood on the inside. That can't be a good sign He thought while shouldering the saddle bags that held a first aid kit, his bug-in bag, toolkit for his bike, and a large hunting knife.
Something told him to go down the stairs, back wasn't an option. As he progressed he realized that he must be late to the party. There were numerous traps that had be sprung and blood everywhere from those who had fallen victim to them. He worked his way through these in a haze until he came across a small crying child who was standing next to the body of a badly mangled woman. He approached her and held out his hand. "You can come with me. I'll keep you safe." He told her. When she didn't respond he crouched down to help her mourn. That's when the spiders came. He was able to fight off the first one with a well placed steel toe and the second reared up giving him the chance to grab both front legs and rip them from the creature's abdomen. When dozens of glistening eyes began to appear all around he grabbed the girl, threw her over his shoulder and ran.
He was able to keep most of the spiders at bay by swinging his liberated spider leg at them and a broad sweeping motion. When the little blue creature appeared he did the only thing that he could think of an ran it through with the spider leg as though it were a spear. He then grabbed the little man's cross bow and fired off the loaded shot, tossed the weapon at the closest spider before taking the short sword out of the impaled imp's hand. Then again, he ran. Now he could do more damage to each of the spiders but the trade off was that they had to get so much closer. He had to slow down to make sure that he kept the girl out of their reach. Which meant that more of the arachnids were catching up and scoring hits on him. His jacket and armor were taking the worst of it but a few claws were getting through and taking their toll.
Finally, without really realizing it, he stumbled through the door and into the safe zone. He set the girl down as he took a look around the room.
"Look Sweetie. A Bald Eagle."

He had barely uttered the words when the knowledge upload happened. He squeezed his eyes shut against the headache and the spider venom throb. "Oh god, that hurts." He mutters while pulling up menus. In his hazy, pained state he wasn't sure if he was making the best choices but they were ones that made sense to him at the time, he could feel that he was going to pass out and he wanted to be done the selection before then.
Hitting the last selection he lets go of the fight for lucidity. As his vision narrows he looks at the little girl. "Good Luck, Sweetie. You can do it."